Published: Monday, September 1, 2014 at 2:44 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, September 1, 2014 at 2:44 p.m.

Tickets: $35 in advance and $45 at the door, available online through Eventbrite.

Info: Visit www.ourcarolinafoothills.com or see the Facebook page at Our Carolina Foothills.

It’s an initiative that bills itself as “Four Towns, Two States, One Great Experience.” The “Our Carolina Foothills” campaign began in March to market as a package the towns of Polk County — Tryon, Saluda and Columbus — and their neighbor to the south, Landrum, S.C.

On Sept. 28, the initiative will host “Taste of Our Carolina Foothills: A Wine and Food Event.” The event will feature restaurants and bakeries from all four towns as well as local makers of wines, cheeses, chocolates and other fare for sampling.

Tickets to this celebration of regional drinks and edibles with jazz music in a vineyard setting will be sold as a means of raising money to promote the region as a tourist destination.

“We’re an economic and geographic community,” said Suzanne Strickland. She owns the Stone Soup, a restaurant in Landrum, and volunteers her time to this effort to link together towns that she believes each have their own personalities and charms. Real estate agents often refer to the four towns as the “string of pearls.”

When Amazon opened its distribution center in Spartanburg last year, Strickland said, she saw growth moving closer to the foothills. This campaign to focus on the small towns aims to highlight their individual histories and the rural beauty of the area, which most residents say they want to remain unspoiled.

Developments like Tryon International Equestrian Center, Strickland said, should help with the preservation of countryside, since horses and green spaces go hand in hand. The region has a tendency, she added, to attract artists and farmers who also value the land and its vistas.

Strickland thinks cross-marketing makes sense because people come to the area wanting to make a whole day or a whole weekend of it by seeing as much as possible. “Each town is so diverse,” she said. “If we come together, everyone benefits.”

A website with a comprehensive events calendar highlights each town’s history and lists shops, restaurants and attractions. A billboard along I-26 invites motorists to “experience our celebrated farm fresh, local cuisine” and lists all of the towns.

Strickland said that the marketing campaign focuses on potential tourists — especially day-trippers — within a three-hour radius.

Funds raised from ticket sales for the wine and food event will be used to further promote the region, and organizers intend for the event to be held annually. For this inaugural occasion, only 250 tickets will be sold, but Strickland said she sees it, perhaps, becoming an even bigger event next year.

Our Carolina Foothills is the only organization promoting all four of the towns together. Strickland said, “We need to work together as a community. In order for me to win, somebody else doesn’t have to lose. That’s how I live my life.”

“Taste of Our Carolina Foothills” will take place 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, at Overmountain Vineyards in Tryon. Admission is $35 in advance and $45 at the door.

Tickets are available online through Eventbrite. For more information, visit www.ourcarolinafoothills.com or see the Facebook page at Our Carolina Foothills.

<p>What: Taste of Our Carolina Foothills</p><p>When: 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28</p><p>Where: Overmountain Vineyards in Tryon</p><p>Tickets: $35 in advance and $45 at the door, available online through Eventbrite.</p><p>Info: Visit www.ourcarolinafoothills.com or see the Facebook page at Our Carolina Foothills.</p><p>It’s an initiative that bills itself as Four Towns, Two States, One Great Experience. The Our Carolina Foothills campaign began in March to market as a package the towns of Polk County  Tryon, Saluda and Columbus  and their neighbor to the south, Landrum, S.C.</p><p>On Sept. 28, the initiative will host Taste of Our Carolina Foothills: A Wine and Food Event. The event will feature restaurants and bakeries from all four towns as well as local makers of wines, cheeses, chocolates and other fare for sampling.</p><p>Tickets to this celebration of regional drinks and edibles with jazz music in a vineyard setting will be sold as a means of raising money to promote the region as a tourist destination.</p><p>We’re an economic and geographic community, said Suzanne Strickland. She owns the Stone Soup, a restaurant in Landrum, and volunteers her time to this effort to link together towns that she believes each have their own personalities and charms. Real estate agents often refer to the four towns as the string of pearls.</p><p>When Amazon opened its distribution center in Spartanburg last year, Strickland said, she saw growth moving closer to the foothills. This campaign to focus on the small towns aims to highlight their individual histories and the rural beauty of the area, which most residents say they want to remain unspoiled.</p><p>Developments like Tryon International Equestrian Center, Strickland said, should help with the preservation of countryside, since horses and green spaces go hand in hand. The region has a tendency, she added, to attract artists and farmers who also value the land and its vistas.</p><p>Strickland thinks cross-marketing makes sense because people come to the area wanting to make a whole day or a whole weekend of it by seeing as much as possible. Each town is so diverse, she said. If we come together, everyone benefits.</p><p>A website with a comprehensive events calendar highlights each town’s history and lists shops, restaurants and attractions. A billboard along I-26 invites motorists to experience our celebrated farm fresh, local cuisine and lists all of the towns.</p><p>Strickland said that the marketing campaign focuses on potential tourists  especially day-trippers  within a three-hour radius.</p><p>Funds raised from ticket sales for the wine and food event will be used to further promote the region, and organizers intend for the event to be held annually. For this inaugural occasion, only 250 tickets will be sold, but Strickland said she sees it, perhaps, becoming an even bigger event next year.</p><p>Our Carolina Foothills is the only organization promoting all four of the towns together. Strickland said, We need to work together as a community. In order for me to win, somebody else doesn’t have to lose. That’s how I live my life.</p><p>Taste of Our Carolina Foothills will take place 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, at Overmountain Vineyards in Tryon. Admission is $35 in advance and $45 at the door.</p><p>Tickets are available online through Eventbrite. For more information, visit www.ourcarolinafoothills.com or see the Facebook page at Our Carolina Foothills.</p>